Summary: In his Senior year, Dave decides to join Glee club to gain some real friends. But nobody will find out about his sexuality...that is, until Warbler Jeff transfers to McKinley. Just like that, Dave is falling all over again, and he finds that his journey to self-acceptance isn't over yet.
Rated: T probably for language and other stuff.
Author's Note: Yes, I am aware that I haven't posted a chapter of Never Too Late in about two months. I'm having a hard time with the final chapter, but it will be up soon, because I feel bad about leaving you all hanging. For now, this plot bunny will keep me company :) Enjoy!
Dave stumbled up the steps of McKinley High School, keeping his pant-leg out in front of him. After stepping in a puddle of water and tripping up stone steps, his first day as a Senior wasn't going too smoothly. And he knew it wasn't going to get any better as the day progressed. He felt numb, in a way, knowing that today was going to change his life forever. This was the day that would define the rest of his high school career, his reputation, and most of all, his personality. He had been gearing himself up for this day for the last month, ever since he decided that he was going to join the New Directions.
It would seem strange to anyone who didn't know Dave, really know him, that he was going to join the Ladies of the pathetic Glee club. After all, how many Glee pictures were spared in the yearbook that the librarian kept on her old and dusty shelves? Absolutely none. They were all fair game, as far as the athletes were concerned. They were the bottom of the barrel in this school.
And Dave didn't do Glee. Sure, singing and dancing may be fun, but in front of a group of people? It scared the hell out of him at the championship game last year. He kept having this vision of himself either forgetting the words and standing in front of hundreds like a complete loser, or him getting kicked in the face by Finn. Which could very well have happened, according to Rachel Berry.
But it was all he had to hope for. He used to have some vague dream that he would tell Azimio the truth, the whole truth, and he would welcome Dave with open arms and a big smile and tell him that, of course they could still be friends, they'd always be best friends.
That was stupid. It would never happen, for many reasons. First, Azimio hated homos. He hated homos so much that he called them homos, not realizing how hurtful that was. Not that Dave was getting all emotional, but it just plain sucked to hear his so-called best friend criticizing gays. It felt like a personal stab at him. Second, Azimio was a total sheep. Dave liked to think that one day he would surprise him by basically telling everyone to shove it. But he never would.
So Dave was stuck. The way he saw it, he had two choices: Stay with the jocks and live a lie, possibly leading to a late-in-life scandal as Santana once pointed out, or join Glee and, at the very least, make a few friends who wouldn't hate him if they knew the truth.
Not that he ever planned on telling anyone. Kurt and Santana knew already, and that was enough. It wasn't anyone else's business.
Dave stalked down to the auditorium at the end of the day. His heart was beating too fast, his palms were sweaty, and his stomach was acting up in a way that could only mean he was nervous as hell. Because, although everyone who auditioned for the club got in, they still had to audition. Dave had to sing.
He had prepared for this, too. He would wander downstairs each morning for breakfast and catch his father giving him a weird look, probably wondering why his football-loving son was belting out broadway tunes in the shower.
When he walked into the auditorium he stopped immediately in his tracks and almost ran right out. Didn't realize that hobbits were invited. God, he doesn't even go here!
Blaine was leaning against the stage, arms folded over his chest as he smiled and talked to Kurt. He was wearing a short-sleeved black shirt that, to Dave's disgust, showed off the muscles on his arms nicely. Dave shook his head and walked down the aisle to meet up with the two.
"Hey Dave! Mr. Schue told me that you'd be auditioning. What are you going to sing?" Kurt was probably being too polite, but Dave liked it. It made him feel like Kurt truly forgave him for what he did to him. He nodded his head toward Blaine.
"What's he doing here? Didn't know this was an open audition."
"Oh, it's not. He's auditioning."
Well, smack me in the face once more, please!
"What? But, he goes to Dalton!"
"Not anymore," Blaine cut in. Dave was surprised to hear such a pleasant, friendly tone. "Had to switch schools this year. I figured if I was going to be at such a conservative school, I might as well make the most of it with New Directions. And you?"
"Along the same lines, actually," Dave grunted. It was easier for him to talk to Blaine now that he was sure he had gotten over Kurt, but it still felt weird to have a pleasant conversation with him. Mr. Schue called everybody around and asked who wanted to go first. When nobody said anything Blaine shrugged and said he might as well go. Guess it's easier for him since they've heard him sing many times already.
Blaine sang a song he wrote himself, and Dave couldn't deny that he sounded beautiful. Next, a girl named Bailey sang a song called "Show me Love." Dave sneaked a peak at Santana and grinned when he saw her blushing fiercely. His smile was wiped clean when he realized that he was the only one left. He got up on stage, shuffling around for a second, before he decided that it was now or never.
He grabbed the microphone in his shaky hands, trying to ignore the way everyone was looking at him. Rachel had that stupid superior look on her face, like she expected Dave to flop the performance. Kurt smiled encouragingly, and, to his great surprise, so did Blaine. Santana thrust her hips forward a little, and Dave had to turn his head away so that he didn't snort into the microphone. Laughing made him feel better. He cleared his throat, nodding to the band kids who randomly showed up, and looked out into the small but intimidating audience.
"I never made this world, I didn't even lose it, and I know no one said it was fair," Dave could hear the shaking in his voice. He knew he wasn't doing as good as he did in his little shower stadium. He could see the superior look on Rachel's face, only slightly marred by his start. That wasn't good enough. I want this girl to be blown the fuck away.
"And now we're lost in the wilderness, lost, crying in the wilderness, and if anyone's watching it seems they couldn't care less, we're lost in the wilderness." Dave closed his eyes, willing himself to let go.
Dude, come on! Just for this one moment, stop worrying. Don't worry if they laugh at you later, don't worry about them possibly rejecting you for everything you've done in the past. Just let go. Just be free.
"Til one bright and distant morning we may stop and look around and there in the wilderness, finally we'll be found!" He pushed the last word out, forced it out of his mouth with a strength that he didn't know he had. It felt wonderful. For the first time, he could actually understand why these Glee kids could throw away their reputation for this. It was the first time in his high school life that he felt right.
As the music ended he smiled to himself. He wasn't expecting the wall of sound that crashed into him, the loud chorus of clapping and hollers. But he felt happy. He knew they'd probably have no problem letting him in, and he could hide behind the music and never have to worry about losing all of his friends.
As he climbed off the stage, hands clapping him on the shoulder, Rachel's smile almost blinding him with happiness, the door to the auditorium pushed open. A boy with bright blond hair, dressed in a black vest over a tight white T-shirt complete with black skinny jeans, walked into the big room hesitantly.
"Ohmygod, Jeff!" Kurt through himself at the boy, who embraced Kurt with a big smile on his face. His teeth were so white.
"Hi!"
"What are you doing here, Jeff?" Blaine said as he pulled the boy into a tight hug.
"Um...Had to move. Long story. I'll tell you later. Is it too late for me to audition?" He smiled around at everyone and Mr. Schue motioned for him to take the stage.
"Damn, four people in one year. New Directions is climbin' the social ladder, bitches!" Puck roared from his seat. Lauren punched him in the stomach to shut him up, and Jeff began his song. "Start a Fire," by Ryan Star. And that was the exact moment that Dave realized that keeping his sexuality a secret was going to be much harder than he initially thought. Because, damn, this boy was beautiful!
Done, woot! Hope you enjoyed, because I typed this up in Science class. And it's an AP class. Do I love my readers, or do I love my readers? Let me know what you think, PLEASEEEEE! Tell me if I should continue or not.
On a random note, what would Jeff and Karofsky be known as? Jarofsky? Keff? Kavid? Deff? Deff! That would be epic! Help me out with this one, pleasums?